Answers by Janice Allen

Hi Sarah - Yes, in Michigan the seller typically pays the real estate commission at closing, even if the home sells quickly. The commission is agreed upon in the listing agreement when the property is listed, and it’s paid from the sale proceeds at closing.

Hi Erik - Great question! I’m not in that market, but I’d be happy to connect you with a vetted Realtor there who can guide you through the process. Typically the steps are preparing the home for sale, pricing it correctly, marketing it to buyers, reviewing offers, and then moving through inspections and closing. If you’d like, I can make an introduction to someone I trust in your area.

That’s a great question. In most cases I don’t typically recommend a pre-listing inspection, even for older homes. Buyers will almost always do their own inspection anyway, so it can sometimes just create a list of items that you feel pressured to address before we even know what a buyer will care about. My preference is usually to focus on making the home show well, price it appropriately, and then address inspection items once we see what the buyer’s inspector identifies. That said, if there’s a specific concern about the home that you’d like clarity on ahead of time, we can certainly talk through whether an inspection would make sense.

Hi Joan - Generally, no. In Michigan you’re not obligated to work with an agent until a listing agreement is signed. Meeting with an agent and discussing the details of selling your home doesn’t create a commitment by itself. If you decide to move forward with someone, the terms would be outlined in the listing agreement before anything officially begins